Cigar package



Jan., 2,; i923.

A SCHNEIDER C|GAR PACKAGE. FILED UNE 4 1920 fr.' lr I m... I

Patented Jan. 2, 1923.

' UNITED STATES ANTHONY SCHNEIDER, OF WHIPPANY, NEW JERSEY.

CIGAR PACKAGE.

Application led June 4,

To -all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ANTHONY SOHNEIDER,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of Whippany, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar Packages, of which the following is a specificatio-n.

My invention is directed. to. an improved form of container adapted especially to the packaging of cigars, and includes the rovi.

sion of a met-al construction which wil 'meet the commercial and technical requirements for such apackage, and which is intended to rep-lace the wooden cigar box heretofore generally employed. i

' Owing to various objections to the em ployment of a wooden box, vboth because of packing and shipping conditions and because of the high, cost of the special wood which must 'be employed for such boxes, manufacturers of cigars have long endeavored to devise a container lmade wholly or substantially of metal, which will -have thel general proportions of the usual wooden box and may be packed the same way, without being subject to theobjections thereto.

' Such endeavors have heretofore failed'in p-roducing a containerwhich would measure up to the technical and commercial'require-A -ments peculiar to the packaging of clgars to suc-h an extent that yit would replace the usual wooden box. For one thing, such a container must possess considerable rigidity. Cigars, when rolled, are substantially round in cross section; and in order to economize space in packing, they are subjected to relatively great pressure, both before'and after being placed in ,the'containen Consequently,

4the container after being packed is subjected to considerable o-utward pressure from the compressed cigars, and must thereforev be substantially rigid toprevent distortion.

Furthermore, cigars must not only be kept moist, but they must also have a certain amount of ventilation toprevent sweati Therefore a suitable container must inclu e very carefully devised means'vfor properly regulating the ventilation of the contents.

The. almost .universal employment of the usual wooden cigar box with a hinged cover has developed a method of merchandizing and use which renders the employment of a similary hinged cover on a metal container highly advantageous, and'fi'om-a commer- 1920. Serial N0. 386,423.

consumer. Furthermore, such ay cover cannot be lost or mislaid.

One of the main objects of my invention is to provide a container readily constructed of metal, which may lhave the ygenerall form of the usual cigar box, and which combines a hinged cover withv a relatively rigid coristruction suilcient' to withstand theoutward thrust of compressed cigars. More specifically, I accomplish this object by employing a cover of the inset or dished type, which is adapted to maintain thewalls of the container in position when the cover is closed vand to revent bulgingthereof.

Anot er object is to fprovide such a container which has a tight-fitting cover, and means for readily swinging the cover open despite the enga ement of the container body therewith. Ighave also disclosed animproved form of hinge connection 'between suchcover and the container body.

A further object of my invention4 is to combine the hinged cover with an easily manufactured support which will hold the cover at a proper displa angle when opened.

Other objects anda vantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container -embodying my invention, I

Fig. 2 is a section' on line 2-2 of Fig. l.' the cover being in raised display position. y Figs. 3 and 4 aresectional views on lines 3 and 4 of Figure l respectively, showing -means for retaining the cover in closed position, and means for' readily. openingthe cover;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through a portion of the hinge showing the means for supporting the cover in elevated lines 7;-7 and 8 8 respectively of Figure 1,

showing another form of hinge..V

The container body 10 may be of any desired form, and while I have disclosed it as conforming substantially to the proportions of the usual cigar box, it is to be understood 5 that my invention is notlimited thereto, as obviousl containers of many other forms ma ein ody in invention. The container bo y is pre erabl provided with walls 11 which are relativefy fiat and unbroken at 10' reinforced portion, such as bead 12.

'Ilie container cover 13 is of the dished or inset type, including` a relatively flat bottom 1a and side walls 15, preferably at right angles to the bottom 14 and adapted to engage the side walls 11 of the container body to produce a snug, neat fit. The cover also may include an outwardly directed reinforced edge, the form disclosed having a rolled bead 16 adapted to rest on bead 12 of the container body, forming an accurate and tight closure.

The cover 13 is connected to the container body 10 by a suitable hinge connection of any desired type, various forms being wellknown and adapted for my purpose. In the form disclosed, I refer to maintain beads 12 and 16 practicaly continuous throughout the periphery of the container, and have shown a hinge construction of this type. One form, shown best in Figure 5, includes spaced tongues 17 carried by and preferably integral with a side Wall 11 of the container body, and bent about the usual pintle -18 in such a way as to be in alinement with a similar continuation of bead 12. The cover 13 is also provided with a plurality of depending tongues 19 fitting between tongues 17 and similarly bent about pintle 18', so that said tongues 17 and 19 form a continuation of bead 12. Tongues 19 may be formed in various ways, either by providing a hinge Vstrip 20 carrying tongues 19 and attached to the cover 13 in any desired way, as by solder, engagement with bead 16, or both, or by forming such tongues. from the adjacent wall of he cover 13, bending them about pintle 18 in a manner shown in AFigure 6.

Another construction is shown in Figure 7, in which the edge of cover 13 at the bottom of bead 16 is extended at spaced points to form the tongues 19. It is noted that Figures 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views taken through the variant forms of tongues 17 while FigureSis a similar view, but taken through a tongue 17 carried by the container body 10.

The cover 13 is preferabl so proportioned and designed that it wi l have 'a relatively snug fit in the container body 10. To facilitate theready and rapid opening of the cover against the resistance necessarily produced by such tight fit, I may provide means to the user in raising the cover. e5 One construction suitable for this purpose their inner faces and which terminate in aA slight extent, as at 24, this construction ofable resistance.

I may also employ means for maintaining the cover 13 in closed position, referably of such a nature that they will yield to the lifting pressure exerted on lip 21. I have illustrated one construction for this pur pose, which includes a suitable recess 22 in a wall 11 of the container body, and a corresponding yprojection or tit 23 on a wall 15 of the cover 13, the tit and recess being normally in engagement when the cover is closed. Tit 23, however, may-readily be roportioned so that it will ride up out o recess 22 upon the ei'iertion of moderate ei'ort to vraise the cover 13.

I also may turna portion of bead 12 inwardly over the upper edge of lip 21 to a fering a slight additional resistance to the raising of the cover, but not enough to prevent the ready opening of the box by the user.

I also may provide means for holding the cover of the container in a rearwardly inclined `or display position, shown 'best in Figure 2, thereby adaptingl the container for ready display in the usual manner during Y vending. One convenient construction for this purpose includes a stop 25 located in the path of bead 16 adjacent the hinge. 'Stop 25 is preferably so proportioned that it will engage bead 16 at such a point that the cover 13 will be inclined slightly rearward from the vertical, the position most suitable for display. While such stop may be constructed in various ways, one convenient arrangement is shown best in Fi re 5, and includes the employment of a strip of metal preferably integral with the container bod 10 and located between the tongues 17, t e strip being lbent outwardly into position to engage bead 16 as described. If preferred, such strip may be double as shown in Figure 5, this construction providing a substan- 'tially strong, yet simple stop 24. Any number of stops of this type may be employed. The containers embodied in my invention 'v are readily packed in the same manner as the,

` usual wooden box. For this purpose, I preferably use fillers 26 ofcedar or other suitable wood, preferably fitting neatly into the container body 10. i After the cigars have been initially vpacked in the container, they Iwill project above the upper edge thereof, as

shown in dotted lines inFigure 2; and'on closin .the container they are subjected to consi erable pressure to force them into the limits indicated in full lines in said figure.

cover in lt will be ap arent that the 'cover 13 will swing over an down upon the cigars in substantially the same manner as the wooden cover of the usualcontainer; and the operation of the press is substantially the samel in performing this step regardless of which type of container is used. When cover 13 is forced into closed position, the tight engagement thereof with the container body 10, to-A gether with the operation of the auxiliary holding devices above described, such as tit 23 and projection 24, serve to maintain the position against the pressure of the cigars.` y l .Y

f desired, I may form all or the .lower portion of wall 15 opposite the cover hinge with. a rearward inclination or curve, as at 27, (Figure 3) to prevent interference between such walls and the edge -of the container body 10. I may'also employ suitable Ventilating 4apertures 28, preferably' on both the top and bottom of they container. By employing these apertures, preferably in combination with cedar strips overlying such apertures, I .have provided for Suitable ventilation of the cigars to prevent sweating, and at the saine time regulate the ventilation by the sizeof the holes, the interposition of the wood, or both, so as to prevent the cigars from drying out. n

The construction disclosed provides aparticularly'rigid support for the sidewalls 11 of the container, preventing them fromk bulging outwardly. This. is primarily produced by the engagement therewith of the cover lwalls 15, the construction being such that any tendency'of a side wall 11 to bulge would necessarily exert a longitudinal com-- pressive strain on the corresponding side wall 15`0f the cover. Aseven relatively lightmaterial vcan stand a very heavy longitudinal pressure, the construction is `inherently rigid even though the sheet metal ordinarily employed for containers is used.

This construction therefore overcomes the.

fundamental deficiency in ythe ordinaryvtype of metal container having-a hinged cover, in

which the cover is provided with a depending skirt overlying the upper edge of the vcontainer body. With such a construction, outward pressure on a side of the container exerts a corresponding pressure on the rela-V tively weak overlapping skirtof the cover,

which ordinarily is more or' less readily eX- tensible. Furthermore, with this construction the upper edge of the body portion is not strongly reinforced and held in position,

since a beaded ormultiply arrangement is not practicable. I am aware that others have heretofore attempted to employ this type of container having an overlying cover; but suoli constructions do not possess the re uired rigidity.

t will'also be evident that the 'construc-v tion disclosed by me is of a type which. is.

. closed position and a bottom4 projectin vlow the top of the .body when in said el readily manufactured by standard machines havin a .minimum number of parts and beingVre atively simple in construction.

hile myinvention is particularly suitable for, packaging cigars, it will be apparent that many features thereof can be employed in containers for other products; and do not consider my invention to be limited to the exact use set forth herein. Neither do I confine myself-to the exact `details disclosed, as obviously man changes and variations therein may readi y be'made without departing from my invention-as set forth in this specification. y i

I claim:

1. A container including a body, said, body comprising a bottom and side walls, a dishedcover havingside walls in continuous frictional engagement with the inner surface of said body side walls when in closed position, a hinge connection between said cover and body side walls and an linwardly turned projectingielementon the .upper edge of the side wall of saidcover opposite the hinge adapted to be engaged 9D` for raisingA said cover;

2. A container including 'a body, a dished cover having side walls in engagement with the inner .surface of said body when in s l A I i position, a hinge connection between said. cover and body, an inwardly turned projection on the upper edge of the side wall of said cover opposite the hin e, and an element at the upper-edge .of sai body extending over said inwardly projecting member to maintain the cover in closed position.'

3. A container including a body having `the major portion of its upper edge in a single plane, a dished cover having side lico lwalls in continuous frictional engagement with theV inner surface of said body when in closed position, a hinge .connection b`egaging outwardly'. directed beads on` said-115 i cover and the upper edge of the container body, and an inwardly. turned member integral with said" upper edge` of said body overlying and engaging said inturned. in-

-"tegra1 portion and adapted to form a latch 120 formaintain-ing the cover in closed position,

.the construction and proportion of parts b'eing such that an upward pull on the inturned integral portion' will force said latch outwardly and permit the cover to be 1 25` raised.

4. A-.container includingva body provided with an outwardly directed bead along the upper edge thereof, a' dished cover having an outwardly directed marginal bead, and

30 nection between the cover andV ycluding a pintle located directly below the per edg a hinge connection provided by. the body and cover beads, located below the cover bead and forming a continuation of the 5. A container includin a body, a dished cover having an outwar y directed marcover having an outwar ydirected marginal bead, a hinge connection between the cover and body located below said bead, including a pintle, members carried by the cover engaging the -;pintle,. andi elements integral with the body engaging the pintle; and a stop carried by the body and rojecting outwardly therefrom adapt to engage said bead to support the cover in a predetermined position when open, said stop being integral with the body and located between the hinge elements thereof.

7 A container including a body provided with an outwardly directed bead at its upe, a dished cover Vprovided'with-Asubstantia ly vertical walls enga ing the body walls when the coveris close a hin e con.-

al m' cover bead, spaced pintle engaging mem- Y dished cover having bers carried by the cover, and spaced pintle p engaging elements carried by' the body; a

sto carried by the body located between sai pmtle engaging elements Yand adapted to engage lthe cover bead to support the cover in a predetermined positlon when open, means carried by the cover at a point substantially opposite to the hinge for facilitating the dislodging of the cover in opening, and releasable means for holding the cover in closed position.

SpA container including a body, said body comprising a bottom and side walls, a

walls, thefside walls of the cover being in continuous frictional engagement with the inner surface of said body side walls, the dished cover having an outwardly turned portion forming a marginal bead, the body being also provided with; an outwardly turned portion formin the beads lying in su stantiall parallel planes when the container is c oecd; the outwardly turned portions of both cover and body providingY tongues having alined channels receiving a hinged pintle, these parts formin a hinge connection between the body an the cover.

Signed at New York city, in the county of and State of New York, this 3rd day of June A. D. 1920.

ANTHONY SCHNEIDER.

a marginal bead,

a bottom and side` 

